A CHILD of 12 will perform with the English Youth Ballet after beating dozens of others for a spot on stage.

Holly Ford-Langstaff, of Launton, will take to the stage in a production of Coppelia being presented by a 75-strong English Youth Ballet group this weekend.

The dancers, aged between eight and 18, were whittled down from more than 150 hopefuls who auditioned over two days from across the region.

English Youth Ballet (EYB) founder and director Janet Lewis said: “EYB is all about providing extra performance experience to young dancers.

“We saw a very pleasing standard at the auditions and it was lovely to see lots of enthusiasm.”

Holly is a pupil of Victoria Hill School of Ballet and goes to Akeley Wood School in Buckingham.

She will be living her dream by taking part in the professional show, which is the culmination of an intense 10 days of rehearsals.

Rehearsals for the ballet are taking place at St Joan of Arc Catholic School with all the dancers.

Brazilian principal dancer Samantha Camejo will be dancing the leading role of Swanhilda and she is training the young cast in rehearsals.

She previously danced with the English National Ballet herself, she said: “The young dancers are treated just like the professionals in the rehearsals with EYB.

“They discover what having a dance career might be like - both in the studio and on the stage.

“It is an amazing experience for them.”

Over the course of the 10 day intense rehearsals all the students have been rehearsing across three of the school's main rooms simultaneously.

British principal dancer and coach, Phillip Tunstall, said: “I enjoy meeting all the talented young dancers up and down the UK.

“I really try to mentor and inspire the young dancers and help inform them about the profession.”

The performance on Friday and Saturday at Rickmansworth’s Watersmeet theatre near Watford will star international principal dancers including Samantha Camejo, Monica Tapiador and Phillip Tunstall. Soloist and corps de ballet roles will be by youngsters.